boot

plural boots

1. footwearA heavy shoe that covers part of the leg.
   1. footwearhobbiesA kind of sports shoe worn by players of certain games such as cricket and football (historically in the form of boots, now shorter, but still called the same).
2. uncountableA blow with the foot; a kick.

   Synonyms: kick

3. businessA flexible cover of rubber or plastic, which may be preformed to a particular shape and used to protect a shaft, lever, switch, or opening from dust, dirt, moisture, etc.
4. figurativelywith definite articleOppression, an oppressor.

   Chronic unrest in Ireland, long under the British boot, was about to culminate in a popular rising.

   2013 October 8, Stanley Weintraub, Young Mr. Roosevelt: FDR's Introduction to War, Politics, and Life, Hachette UK, →ISBN

   2 more examples

   Dr. Jayakar was not only one of them but was at places the prime mover in the historic decisions taken by a nation struggling to get free of the British boot.

   1958, Filmindia

   Never in its long history, and one rich with brutal inequities too, had Paris known the disgrace of seeing one section of its community prosper under the boot of an invader

   1989, Gilles Perrault, Pierre Azema, Paris Under the Occupation

5. usually preceded by definite articleA torture device used on the feet or legs, such as a Spanish boot.

   The boot, thumbscrews, the shackles, and a contraption called the "warm hose", were only a few of the inflictions being too terrible to mention.

   1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 221

6. UStransportA parking enforcement device used to immobilize a car until it can be towed or a fine is paid; a wheel clamp.

   Synonyms: wheel clamp

7. aeronauticsA rubber bladder on the leading edge of an aircraft’s wing, which is inflated periodically to remove ice buildup; a deicing boot.
8. obsoleteA place at the side of a coach, where attendants rode; also, a low outside place before and behind the body of the coach.

   [T]he young man helped the young lady, half-swooning, inside, and Egbert, Murial Jane and Silvander Dan climbed on to the boot which was a handsome high-seat at the back.

   1936, Norman Lindsay, The Flyaway Highway, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 23

9. archaicA place for baggage at either end of an old-fashioned stagecoach.

   Synonyms: butt, heel, ender, outsider

10. AustraliaNew ZealandSouth AfricaUKautomotiveThe luggage storage compartment of a sedan or saloon car.

    The body is constructed of welded steel panels, with the bonnet, doors and boot lid in aluminium on steel frames.

    2003, Keith Bluemel, Original Ferrari V-12 1965-1973: The Restorer's Guide, unnumbered page

    2 more examples

    He heaved the bag and its contents over the lip of the boot and on to the flagstones. When it was out, no longer in that boot but on the ground, and the bag was still intact, he knew the worst was over.

    1998, Ruth Rendell, A Sight For Sore Eyes, published 2010, page 260

    Peers leant against the outside of the car a lit up her filter tip and watched as Bauer and Putin placed their compact suitcases in the boot of the BMW and slammed the boot lid down.

    2008, MB Chattelle, Richmond, London: The Peter Hacket Chronicles, page 104

    Synonyms: trunk, dicky

11. informalwith definite articleThe act or process of removing or firing someone (dismissing them from a job or other post).

    He was useless so he got the boot.

12. UKslangAn unattractive person, ugly woman.

    old boot

    Synonyms: firing, layoff

13. USslanggovernmentA recently arrived recruit; a rookie.

    Did you even go to OCS, you complete and utter boot!?

    2020 November 2, JoshScorcher, “Top Ten Hated Characters We're Supposed to Like”, in YouTube

14. USpluralusuallygovernmentA soldier, especially a footsoldier.

    We do not anticipate there will be US boots on the ground to help quell the violence.

15. ethnicslangslurA black person.

    My Dad has taught me that in England some foolish man may call me sambo, darkie, boot or munt or nigger, even.

    1964 [1957], Colin MacInnes, City of Spades, London: Penguin Books, page 22

16. engineeringA hard or rigid case for a long firearm, typically moulded to the shape of the gun.

    They drew in their horses and dismounted. The others riding ahead were already out of sight in the darkness. Beyond them shone the lights of Bou Saada. Tarzan removed his rifle from its boot and loosened his revolver in its holster.

    1913 June–December, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “The Fight in the Desert”, in The Return of Tarzan, New York, N.Y.: A[lbert] L[evi] Burt Company, […], published March 1915, →OCLC, page 107

17. ball gamesA bobbled ball.
18. biologyThe inflated flag leaf sheath of a wheat plant.
19. slangA linear amplifier used with CB radio.

    Because of overcrowding, many a CB enthusiast (called an "apple") is strapping an illegal linear amplifier ("boots") on to his transceiver ("ears") […]

    1977, New Scientist, volume 74, page 764

20. slanghobbiesA tyre.
21. USA crust end-piece of a loaf of bread.

    Synonyms: butt, heel

present singular third person boots · participle present booting · participle past booted · past booted

1. transitiveTo kick.

   You nearly booted me in the face!

   2 more examples

   I booted the ball toward my teammate.

   The one certainty is that the redrafting will delay by several months the general election that was supposed to be held at the end of this year. Mr Prayuth has implied that elections cannot now be held until after King Vajiralongkorn's coronation, which itself cannot take place until after his father's elaborate cremation, scheduled for October. All this boots the long-promised polls well into 2018.

   2017 January 14, “Thailand's new king rejects the army's proposed constitution”, in The Economist

   Synonyms: hoof, kick

2. To put boots on, especially for riding.

   Coated and booted for it.

   1641, Ben Jonson, Discoveries Made upon Men and Matter

3. CanadaUScolloquialusuallyTo step on the accelerator of a vehicle for faster acceleration than usual or to drive faster than usual.

   The storm is coming fast! Boot it!

   1 more example

   We had to boot it all the way there to get to our flight on time.

4. informalTo eject; kick out.

   We need to boot those troublemakers as soon as possible.

   1 more example

   The senator was booted from the committee for unethical behavior.

5. informalcomputingTo disconnect forcibly; to eject from an online service, conversation, etc.

   Even flagrant violators of the TOS are not booted.

   2003, John C. Dvorak, Chris Pirillo, Online!, page 173

   2 more examples

   As an IRC member with operator status, Swallow was able to manage who was allowed to remain in chat sessions and who got booted off the channel.

   2002, Dan Verton, The Hacker Diaries, page 67

   In Electroserver, the kick command disconnects a user totally from the server and gives him a message about why he was booted.

   2002, Jobe Makar, Macromedia Flash Mx Game Design Demystified, page 544

   Synonyms: kick

6. slangTo vomit.

   Sorry, I didn’t mean to boot all over your couch.

7. Multicultural London EnglishslangTo shoot, to kill by gunfire.

   C4 run man through the alley Get a man down with the swammy Get a man down with the whammy Boot couple niggas on the road No face no case with the bally (booting)

   2015 November 1, “Dem Man Know”, C4 (814) (lyrics)

plural boots

1. archaiccountabledialectaluncountableRemedy, amends.

   next her Son, our soul's best boot

   1820, William Wordsworth, The Prioress' Tale (from Chaucer)

   1 more example

   Thou art boot for many a bruise / And healest many a wound.

   1814 July 7, [Walter Scott], Waverley; or, ’Tis Sixty Years Since. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, →OCLC

2. uncountableProfit, plunder.
3. countableuncountableThat which is given to make an exchange equal, or to make up for the deficiency of value in one of the things exchanged; compensation; recompense.

   I'll give you boot, I'll give you three for one.

   c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene v]

   2 more examples

   If mortgaged property is transferred, the amount of the mortgage is part of the boot. If both parties to the transaction transfer mortgages to each other, the party giving up the larger debt treats the excess as taxable boot.

   2008, Jeffrey H. Rattiner, Financial Planning Answer Book 2009, pages 6–43

   If the target retains the boot and uses it for, say, paying its debt, there is taxation on the boot.

   2021, Eli Amir, Marco Ghitti, Financial Analysis of Mergers and Acquisitions, page 117

4. countableobsoleteuncountableProfit; gain; advantage; use.

   Then talk no more of flight, it is no boot.

   1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv]

5. countableobsoleteuncountableRepair work; the act of fixing structures or buildings.First known use to mid-17th c.
6. countableobsoleteuncountableA medicinal cure or remedy.First known use to mid-16th c.

present singular third person boots · participle present booting · participle past booted · past booted

1. archaicimpersonalintransitivetransitiveTo be beneficial, to help.

   1678 Richard Hooker, “A Sermon found in the study of Bishop Andrews” in Izaak Walton, The Life of Dr. Sanderson, late Bishop of Lincoln, London: Richard Marriot, p. 262, What booteth it to others that we wish them well, and do nothing for them?

   4 more examples

   It boots thee not to be compaſsionate, / After our ſentence, plaining comes too late.

   1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii], page 26, column 2

   It bootes me not to threat, I must ſpeake faire, / The legate of the Pope will be obeyd: […]

   1594, Christopher Marlow[e], The Troublesome Raigne and Lamentable Death of Edward the Second, King of England: […], London: […] [Eliot’s Court Press] for Henry Bell, […], published 1622, →OCLC, [Act I]

   What could be wanting in my father but to have wrote a book to publiſh this notion of his to the world? Little boots it to the ſubtle ſpeculatiſt to ſtand ſingle in his opinions,—unleſs he gives them proper proper vent: […]

   1759, [Laurence Sterne], chapter XIX, in The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, 2nd (1st London) edition, volume I, London: […] R[obert] and J[ames] Dodsley […], published 1760, →OCLC, pages 126–127

   Think you that we should quarrel with the French? / What boots to us your victories, your glory? / We pay, we fight, you profit at your ease.

   1794, Robert Southey, Wat Tyler. A Dramatic Poem. In Three Acts, London: J[ohn] M‘Creery, […] for Sherwood, Neely, and Jones, […], published 1817, →OCLC, Act II, page 44

2. archaicimpersonalintransitiveTo matter; to be relevant.

   I will go and offer myſelf to this divorce—it boots not what becomes of me.

   1764 December 24 (indicated as 1765), Onuphrio Muralto, translated by William Marshal [pseudonyms; Horace Walpole], chapter IV, in The Castle of Otranto, […], London: […] Tho[mas] Lownds […], →OCLC, page 151

   2 more examples

   [W]hat subdued / To change like this, a mind so far imbued / With scorn of man, it little boots to know; [...]

   1816, Lord Byron, “Canto III”, in Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage. Canto the Third, London: […] [F]or John Murray, […], →OCLC, stanza LIV, page 30

   What boots whether it be Westminster or a little country spire which covers your ashes, or if, a few days sooner or later, the world forgets you?

   1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, The History of Pendennis. […], volume I, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849, →OCLC, page 178

3. archaicraretransitiveTo enrich.

   And I will boot thee with what guift beſide / Thy modeſtie can begge.

   c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene v], page 348, column 2

plural boots

1. archaiccomputingThe act or process of bootstrapping; the starting or re-starting of a computing device.

   It took three boots, but I finally got the application installed.

present singular third person boots · participle present booting · participle past booted · past booted

1. archaiccomputingTo bootstrap; to start a system, e.g. a computer, by invoking its boot process or bootstrap.

   When arriving at the office, the first thing I do is boot my machine.

   Synonyms: bootstrap, boot up, start · Antonyms: shut down, stop, turn off

plural boots

1. archaicinformalA bootleg recording.

   I am looking to trade Iron Maiden boots. I have many Iron Maiden bootlegs. I have lots of Metallica. I trade CDR's, tapes and videos.

   1999, Tom Fletcher, “Looking for Iron Maiden boot traders”, in alt.music.bootlegs (Usenet)

1. A surname.
2. A small village in Eskdale parish, Cumberland, Cumbria, England, previously in Copeland borough (OS grid ref NY1701).

1. abbreviationinitialismInitialism of Build–own–operate–transfer.